Canadian men’s volleyball team to launch 2011 season with Pan Am Cup tournament June 13-18 in Gatineau

GATINEAU – Canada’s men’s national volleyball team announced today it will host the Pan Am Cup tournament set for June 13-18 at the Centre Robert-Guertin in Gatineau, Que. It is the first major event for the national team in the all important 2011 season which will include an opportunity to qualify for the Olympics.

‘’The Pan Am Cup is a very big tournament for us in our ultimate objective to qualify for the Olympic Games,’’ said Canada’s head coach Glenn Hoag. ‘’We have a lot of challenges ahead of us, the players are ready and we have the resources here at the Centre sportif to help us attain our goals.’’

There is also a big prize at the Pan Am Cup with a berth in the prestigious World League on the line at the tournament.

A total of 10 countries are confirmed for the tournament. Along with Canada they are the U.S., the defending champions, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Venezuela, Panama, Bahamas and the Dominican Republic.

One of the Canadian players anxious to compete in the Pan Am Cup is Alexandre Gaumont Casias of Marieville, Que. He missed all of last season with the national team due to injury.

‘’It’s a very high level tournament,’’ said Gaumont Casias. ‘’We need to play some tough opponents and this is a great opportunity to do that this early in the season. The guys started training together on Monday and the Pan Am Cup will certainly be a measuring test on what we need to improve upon for the rest of the season.’’

Five of the 10 countries participating are ranked among the top twenty nations in the world, and the U.S., and Brazil are ranked in the top five.

“The Pan Am Cup is important in its own right as it is the first qualification event for the World League,’’ said Hugh Wong, Volleyball Canada’s president. ‘'. This is a great opportunity for Canadians to see world-class volleyball. It is a tremendous preparation opportunity for Team Canada as it begins its Olympic Qualification journey.”

This is also the first international tournament for the men’s national squad in Gatineau, since the city became its home base in 2009 at the Centre sportif.

‘’We are very proud to welcome the 6th Pan Am Cup men’s volleyball tournament which will attract the very best players from the Americas,’’ said Marc Bureau, mayor of the Ville de Gatineau. ‘’The players from the 10 countries will provide a great spectacle and fans will come from all over to see these matches. It will be one of the ‘can’t miss’ events in 2011.’’